Tamponade uterine supporter.



W. B. GRANSTON.

" TAMPONADE UTBRINE SUPPORTER.

APPLICATION FILED APILZ'I; 1914.

1,123,994., Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

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WILLIAM B. CRANSTON,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TAMPONADE UTERINE SlUPPORTER.

Application filed April 27,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM B. GRAN swim, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tamponade Uterine Supporters, of which the following is a specification.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective 'one or more of the following factors weakening of the supporting ligaments; inflammatory increase in weight of the organ: injury to the muscles of the pelvic floor (usually sustained in childbirth).

The only nonsurgical methods advised by the best medical authorities for the support of the displaced uterus are: first, tamponade or packing of the vagina with gauze, cotton, wool or some other resilient and fibrous material, and second, the pessary. The principle of the tamponade is the replacement to whatever degree required, of the defective natural pelvic floor with an artificial one of light, non-irritating, resilient material supported by a binder. The principle of the action of the pessary is the wholly unnatural and often danger ous lifting of the uterus by forced mechanical stretching and pushing backward and upward of the vaginal tissues to which the uterus is attached.

The only objections which can be raised against treatment by the tamponade are:

First, That the cotton, etc., as soon as it becomes saturated with the natural secretions becomes compressed into a compact mass, losing both its bulk and resiliency,

and, therefore, its value as an effective support. Second: This loss of effectiveness occurs in twelve hours, or less, in practically all cases, and therefore the treatment must be frequently applied to maintain the desired effect. Third: It cannot be applied Specification of Letters Patent.

v Patented Jan. 5, i915.

1914. Serial No. 834,811.

in the ordinary Way by the patient herself, but must be carried out, by a physician and is therefore very expensive.

The object of my invention is to over come all of these objections, and with this object in view my invention consists of the parts and combination of parts as will be hereinafter pointed out. The reference numeral 1 designates an abdominal belt which may be made of any suitable material and of any desired construction. A series of buckles 2 are secured to the belt in which the straps 4 of the perineal binder are secured; the straps 5 of the said binder being attached to the belt by means of the buckles 6.

The perineal binder 7 is provided with an oval opening 8, the edges of which are re inforced and provided with one member of a. snap button 9 by means of which the tampon protector may be secured to said binder. A trapezoidal piece of suitable material 10 is secured to the perineal binder and provided with straps 11 whereby it may be held over the oval opening 8 in the binder, said straps engaging suitable buckles 12 on the binder, thereby holding the tampon securely in place in the protector 13.

The tampon protector 13 may be made of any suitable moisture proof material and is cylindrical in shape and closed at its inner end and open at its outer end. At the other end the protector 13 is flared and is continuous with an integral oval flange 14 on the posterior surface of which is secured one member of a snap button adapted for engagement with the other button member 9 on the perineal binder, whereby the protector is firmly secured to said binder.

The protector 13 may be readily introduced into the vagina by the patient herself, by inserting in it an ordinary douche tip and using a non-greasy vegetable lubricant. The protector can then be easily filled, by the patient, with cotton pledgets or other suitable material, this preferably being done in the knee-chest position, and to as great a degree of distention as the case requires. The tampon is then covered be removed temporarily at intervals of a few days for cleaning purposes.

By making the tampon protector detachable from the perineal hinder, the latter may be removed, for stool purposes, without- Withdrawing the tampon.

By means of my invention the amount of packing can be varied to. suit each individual case to secure greatest eificiency. Nothing is introduced into the uterus itself, hence there is no danger of infection.

I claim In a tamponade uterine supporter, the combination with a belt, of a perineal sup- WILLIAM B; CRANSTON.

In presence Qf--- C. H. FARLAND,

THOMAS MCCLAIN. 

